Packaged newspaper



Oct. 15, 1968 v 1 K PACKAGED NEWSPAPER Filed June 29, 1967 MM @M W W m M E A United States Patent 3,405,796 PACKAGED NEWSPAPER Albert V. Misik, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Belco Engineering, Inc., Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 29, 1967, Ser. No. 649,904 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protective package covers a newspaper that is spread out substantially flat. The package fits loosely around the newspaper although conforming to its shape. Most advantageously, the package comprises two pieces of waterproof film, such as polyethylene, covering the top and bottom of the newspaper. The pieces of film are sealed together on all four sides of the newspaper. On the sides parallel to the grain of the film, a double seal is formed, one seal being at the edges of the two pieces of film and the other seal being set back slightly from the one seal. On the sides perpendicular to the film grain, the seal is set back substantially from the edges of the film to form a grip for handling the packaged newspaper. The outside surface of the package is treated to receive print and printed matter is placed thereon.

Backgrozmd of the invention This invention relates to packaging and, more particularly, to an improved newspaper package.

The major portion of the circulation of most newspapers is delivered to the home of the reader. For many years it has been the practice of delivery boys to roll or fold each newspaper into a bundle in order to throw it more easily without having it come apart. Recently, newspaper distributors started packaging newspapers in a protective film during bad weather to prevent them from becoming wet. Following the common practice, each newspaper is rolled or folded into a bundle and then packaged. This packaging operation is diflicult to perform by machine and the resultant packaged newspaper is difiicult to handle.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, a newspaper is packaged while it is spread out substantially flat. The package conforms to the shape of the flat newspaper, but preferably fits loosely around the newspaper. When contained in a package, the newspaper does not have to be wrapped or folded in order to prevent it from coming apart. Most advantageously, the package for the newspaper is constructed of two pieces of protective film such as polyethylene covering the top and bottom of the newspaper and sealed on all four sides of the newspaper. A double seal is employed on the sides parallel to the grain of the film, one of the seals being at the cut edges of the two pieces of film and the other seal being set back slightly therefrom. On the other sides of the newspaper, single seals are employed that are set back substantially from the ends of the film to provide a grip for handling the package. Preferably, the outside surface of the film is treated so it will receive printed matter.

Brief description of the drawing The features of a specific embodiment are illustrated in the drawing, the single figure of which illustrates a 3,405,796 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 perspective view of a newspaper packaged in accordance with the invention.

Description of a specific embodiment In the drawing, a newspaper 1 is spread out substantially flat. As employed in this specification, the term fiat means a form having broad, smooth, lateral surfaces with little thickness as distinguished from a newspaper rolled or folded in a bundle. A protective film such as clear polyethylene forms a package for newspaper 1. As depicted in the drawing, the packaged newspaper is held from the top by means not shown in a vertical position. Pieces 2 and 3 of the protective film extend over the front and back surfaces respectively of newspaper 1. It is more difficult to establish a good seal parallel to the grain (vertical in the drawing) of pieces 2 and 3 of film than perpendicular to the grain (horizontal in the drawing); therefore, double seals are formed between pieces 2 and 3 on the sides of newspaper 1 parallel to the grain of the tfilm. Seals 4 and 5 are located at the cut edges of pieces 2 and 3 while seals 6 and 7 are set back slightly from seals 4 and 5. Seals 8 and 9 are formed between pieces 2 and 3 on the other sides of newspaper 1 sufficiently far from the edges of pieces 2 and 3 to form large tab-like grips by which the packaged newspaper can be easily handled.

Seals 4 through 9 could be formed by application of heated wires to pieces 2 and 3 along the lines forming the seals. Seals 4 through 9 are spread sufficiently apart so that newspaper I fits loosely into the interior of the package. Accordingly, the film slides freely with respect to the surface of newspaper 1, thereby making it difficult to rupture the package when the newspaper is thrown.

The outer surfaces of pieces 2 and 3 are treated to receive print, and printed matter is placed thereon. Thus, advertising or the like could be printed on the outer surfaces of the package.

A copending application of mine filed concurrently herewith discloses and claims a machine for producing the packaged newspaper of the present application.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising: a newspaper spread out substantially fiat and a protective package enclosing and conforming to the shape of the newspaper, the package fitting loosely around the newspaper so the surface of the package slides freely with respect to the surface of the newspaper, thereby making rupture of the package diificult when the article is thrown.

2. The article of claim 1, in which the package comprises two pieces of waterproof film lying above and below the newspaper respectively, the pieces of film being sealed together on all four sides of the newspaper.

3. The article of claim 2, in which the seals on two sides of the newspaper are substantially set back from the edges of the first and second pieces to form tab-like grips for the article.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,932 8/1939 Sweet et al 229-87 2,728,450 12/1955 Haire 206-46 2,728,515 12/ 1955 Haire.

2,921,731 12/ 1960 Volckening et al. 20646 2,954,116 12/ 1960 Maso et al. 206-56 3,001,644 9/1961 Fourness et al. 206-56 3,137,386 6/1964 Grosskopf 20645.31

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner. 

